[Anthropgrad] RMAP RESEARCH SEMINAR - George Curry & Gina Koczberski - 12.30-1.30pm Tuesday 19 February

[RMAP Seminars]

ON THE MOVE: MIGRATION AND MAKING A LIVING IN THE OIL PALM FRONTIERS OF 
WEST NEW BRITAIN PROVINCE

George Curry & Gina Koczberski (Curtin University of Technology, Perth)

Tuesday 19 February 2008, 12.30-1.30pm
Seminar Room B, Coombs Building, ANU

Abstract
The relatively prosperous oil palm frontier along the northern coastal 
plain from Talasea Peninsula to Navo in the east of Kimbe Bay, West New 
Britain province (WNB) is attracting many migrants from remote areas of 
the province and from other economically disadvantaged areas of PNG. 
This paper focuses on the changing demographic and socio-economic 
environments on the land settlement schemes and informal rural 
settlements emerging in WNB’s oil palm belt. In the context of rising 
population pressure and the desire of migrants to secure a permanent 
future in WNB, the paper explores the broad range of informal tenure 
arrangements migrants are entering into with customary landowners to 
gain short and long-term access to land. We will address several 
important questions raised by these informal land tenure arrangements 
regarding struggles over resource control in frontier areas experiencing 
high migration rates and rapid economic development.

Bio
Gina and George are geographers who have worked in PNG since the mid 
1980s. Much of their research has been on smallholder livelihood 
practices, socio-economic change, and migration, with fieldwork in ENB, 
WNB, Oro and the Sepik.

-- 
Resource Management in Asia-Pacific Program
Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies
The Australian National University

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